I have no connection to China, we speak French at home and my daughter goes to Yu Ying. Why?? Because my local public school (Spanish immersion) stinks and I figured that an exposure to another language (a third for her) would be good. Even if I have no knowledge of the language. About 45% of the kids at YY are African-American. Why?? Because their local public school stinks and their parents are tired of having to face low expectations...
So I fail to see why people are so upset about yet another alternative. Are you gripping because you think jews will go there? Are you afraid that they'll be closed for the JEwish New year? OK and so what? Yu ying closes and celebrate Chinese New Year (with Dragon dances and all-- very nice -- A lot of Asian kids also go to YY and no one is saying they should not. A lot of hispanic kids go to Bancroft (immersion spanish) and no one say they should not. If the kids have some cultural link to the school, the better they will relate to the school. The school is secular. Exposure to another language is always a good thing. Unless of course, it's Hebrew it seems )

Their application says Wards 1,4, or 5. At the public meeting on the school it sounded like they might be leaning towards Ward 4, possibly looking at Walter Reed space to be near YY.

Any idea of the location for the school.

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why everyone assumes this will be a quality school, anyway?

Because it's Jewish.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is calling anyone crafty. You sound defensive. I just think this school's focus is way too narrow for the majority DC's families and will be attractive to a narrow slice of the city. I will eat my words if it plays out differently.

I recommend that you read the threads populated by parents of young kids in the 90s, 100s and 200s on multiple school waitlists. There's a sizable population that is DESPERATE for a decent school--any school!--for their kids. I predict that Washington Hebrew will attract the same parents all the other schools discussed here will.

I disagree that parents are so desperate for a decent school that they would send their kid to a Hebrew immersion school if they didn't have some connection with Jewish culture. Just like I don't think a family would send their kid to a school that is Danish immersion if they didn't have some connection to Denmark or Scandinavia. There just not that relevant.

Except for the fact that the NY Hebrew Charter school is already proving you wrong:

"The school population comprises approximately 35% Black, 6% Hispanic, 55% White, 0% Asian, and 4% other students. Approximately 66.5% of students are designated as receiving free/reduced price lunch, compared to 53.4% for the district."

I know many think the lost tribe can be found in Ethiopia but I highly doubt those are the AA parents choosing the school. Lots of people have no connection to China yet choose YY.

Mandarin is the language of the future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why everyone assumes this will be a quality school, anyway?

Because everybody knows that us Jews value a good education!!!

Right! How else have we been able to rule the world for so many years?

If only we could produce a few decent athletes we would have (what would come to be known as) the trifecta!

Sandy Koufax

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is calling anyone crafty. You sound defensive. I just think this school's focus is way too narrow for the majority DC's families and will be attractive to a narrow slice of the city. I will eat my words if it plays out differently.

I recommend that you read the threads populated by parents of young kids in the 90s, 100s and 200s on multiple school waitlists. There's a sizable population that is DESPERATE for a decent school--any school!--for their kids. I predict that Washington Hebrew will attract the same parents all the other schools discussed here will.

I disagree that parents are so desperate for a decent school that they would send their kid to a Hebrew immersion school if they didn't have some connection with Jewish culture. Just like I don't think a family would send their kid to a school that is Danish immersion if they didn't have some connection to Denmark or Scandinavia. There just not that relevant.

You would be wrong. If we hadn't gotten in to the school we wanted this year, this school would be near the top on my list for next year.

Shiksa in NorthEast

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is calling anyone crafty. You sound defensive. I just think this school's focus is way too narrow for the majority DC's families and will be attractive to a narrow slice of the city. I will eat my words if it plays out differently.

I recommend that you read the threads populated by parents of young kids in the 90s, 100s and 200s on multiple school waitlists. There's a sizable population that is DESPERATE for a decent school--any school!--for their kids. I predict that Washington Hebrew will attract the same parents all the other schools discussed here will.

I disagree that parents are so desperate for a decent school that they would send their kid to a Hebrew immersion school if they didn't have some connection with Jewish culture. Just like I don't think a family would send their kid to a school that is Danish immersion if they didn't have some connection to Denmark or Scandinavia. It's just not that relevant.

I'm desperate for a decent school, you must live in Ward 3 and have no idea what you are talking about.

Nope, I'm a Ward 6 DCPS neighborhood school mom.

Anonymous wrote:It will be very interesting to see how they keep that curriculum 100% secular and achieve genuine religious diversity in the student body and faculty.

I assume that groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State will be watching closely to ensure that the charter school is careful about not crossing the line. They filed a complaint several years ago against the founder of Washington Latin, a Congregationalist minister, for speeches and other events that were seen as too religioius.

http://www.au.org/church-state/november-2007-church-state/people-events/au-tells-dc-charter-school-to-cease-religious

Hebrew was considered much more of a classical language at the time, before it was reclaimed as a spoken language by actual living Jews, who have always inspired less affection than "Hebrews".

Anonymous wrote:Ezra Stiles, not a Jew, gave all of his addresses when he was president of Yale in Hebrew

subtext: send your kid to Washington Hebrew and it's a ticket to Yale?

they did a lot of weird things in the 18th Century.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please remind me how many people worldwide speak Latin.

Latin has had wide influence across the span of history is the basis of many widely spoken languages. Can't say that about Hebrew.

Pax, bitches!

Ezra Stiles, not a Jew, gave all of his addresses when he was president of Yale in Hebrew

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please remind me how many people worldwide speak Latin.

Latin has had wide influence across the span of history is the basis of many widely spoken languages. Can't say that about Hebrew.

We all know that English is the language of Shakespeare, Milton, and the Bible, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Please remind me how many people worldwide speak Latin.

Latin has had wide influence across the span of history is the basis of many widely spoken languages. Can't say that about Hebrew.